Cornelius And His Household
This brother was a devout man; he feared God with all his house; he prayed to God always and gave much alms, which were accepted of God and were had in remembrance in his sight; he had a good report. God heard his prayers, accepted him, and answered his prayers; and he and his household were all anxious to hear the preaching of Peter, testifying, "Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."—Acts 10:33.
This was not a company of sinners. Peter did not preach repentance to them. Although they were Gentiles and did not have the privileges that many others had and were not acquainted with the apostles, they were acquainted with God. Peter expressed his surprise at this, saying, "Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:34, 35. Here Peter testifies both to the righteousness and to the acceptance with God of this household.
From Peter's statement in Acts 11:14, in his testimony to the church concerning this event, a doubt might arise as to this company being saved in the full New Testament justification. He refers to the words of the angel in his message to Cornelius, instructing him to send for Peter, "Who shall teach thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." But this statement in itself cannot be interpreted to mean that this company were not already justified. We have a parallel statement of Peter in his testimony to the church upon another occasion, when he again refers to the grace of God to the Gentile world, saying (Acts 15:10, 11), "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." The term "saved" in both these instances signifies more than justification; for truly Peter and the disciples to whom he was speaking in this last instance were justified.
The household of Cornelius were ready with open hearts to receive all that God had for them, and while Peter spoke the word of God to them "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." This experience was identical in character with that of the Jewish saints at Pentecost.